I'll try to explain the problem.
300 Year old house which has a 7m x 20m loft space.
The beams and loft floor are all oak (all beams span the 7m and are not supported except in the walls) and have been fully treated. I want to keep the exposed beams in in the rooms below the loft and have the under side of the loft floor (hand cut oak planks) exposed. There is no insulation at present!
So,, my plan is to build 'LEVEL FLOOR' just above the existing floor in the loft. I will then insulate the space between the old and new floors and lay a new floor.
I will be developing the loft as living space later (few years) so floor needs to be strong enough for that but must not be supported off the oak. I would like the structure to be worm proof so I'm trying to avoid soft wood and although more oak is an option,,,, the beams would weigh and cost far too much,,, the existing beams are 18 or so inches sq. I'm thinking steel!! but what type and size? or are there any modern suspend floor systems?
The walls are 1m thick rock!! so supporting walls are not a problem
Anyone got any ideas? advice?
300 Year old house which has a 7m x 20m loft space.
The beams and loft floor are all oak (all beams span the 7m and are not supported except in the walls) and have been fully treated. I want to keep the exposed beams in in the rooms below the loft and have the under side of the loft floor (hand cut oak planks) exposed. There is no insulation at present!
So,, my plan is to build 'LEVEL FLOOR' just above the existing floor in the loft. I will then insulate the space between the old and new floors and lay a new floor.
I will be developing the loft as living space later (few years) so floor needs to be strong enough for that but must not be supported off the oak. I would like the structure to be worm proof so I'm trying to avoid soft wood and although more oak is an option,,,, the beams would weigh and cost far too much,,, the existing beams are 18 or so inches sq. I'm thinking steel!! but what type and size? or are there any modern suspend floor systems?
The walls are 1m thick rock!! so supporting walls are not a problem
Anyone got any ideas? advice?